Hi-Fi Molasses free or Honeychop lite and healthy

[isobels07]

Looking for a chaff to increase eating time in my ulcer prone stressy good-doer. these 2 have been the top recommened, Hi-Fi is lower is sugar, however higher in starch and has more fibre and Lite and healthy is lower is starch but has less fibre and is higher in sugar. Hi-Fi also has more protein and from what i can gather is less costly. Which one is better for the horse? Honeychop seems a lot more natural however is more money and lower in fibre.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I personally would rate Lite & Healthy way over hi-fi. My Mini x was terribly footy when on hi-fi and my previous stressy mare didnt cope with the Alfalfa in the hi-fi, it blew her mind.

The L&H is lovely too, has lots of nice bits in it and dandelions etc, almost good enough to eat yourself.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Looking for a chaff to increase eating time in my ulcer prone stressy good-doer. these 2 have been the top recommened, Hi-Fi is lower is sugar, however higher in starch and has more fibre and Lite and healthy is lower is starch but has less fibre and is higher in sugar. Hi-Fi also has more protein and from what i can gather is less costly. Which one is better for the horse? Honeychop seems a lot more natural however is more money and lower in fibre.

I would avoid anything with alfalfa as a matter of course, tbh but that is because we have had more than one horse who reacted badly to it. I have used Henychop and found that it went quite a long way compared to alfalfa chaffs.

 

[PSD]

What about top spec zero? It has absolutely nothing in it, I used it to bulk our feeds for my mare when she had ulcers

 

[isobels07]

I personally would rate Lite & Healthy way over hi-fi. My Mini x was terribly footy when on hi-fi and my previous stressy mare didnt cope with the Alfalfa in the hi-fi, it blew her mind.

The L&H is lovely too, has lots of nice bits in it and dandelions etc, almost good enough to eat yourself.

bit of a strange question, but is it a complete feed? have heard that it is but don't think it is

 

[isobels07]

What about top spec zero? It has absolutely nothing in it, I used it to bulk our feeds for my mare when she had ulcers

Have heard its quite processed, but not 100% sure on that

 

[PSD]

Have heard its quite processed, but not 100% sure on that

There’s also the thunder brooks range you could try, they are more natural I believe. Haven’t used them myself though but a lot of people with ulcers ponies rate it

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I'm

bit of a strange question, but is it a complete feed? have heard that it is but don't think it is

I'm actually not sure, I can't see it described as such online. I feed it just with Equibites and all 4 of mine do very well on it (my mini x has cushcare too).

 

[Nari]

I'd go for the Lite and Healthy too, though I wouldn't say it was a complete feed. Like some of the others I avoid alfalfa as it really doesn't suit my metabolic welsh, plus this smells delicious and is happily eaten.

 

[TPO]

bit of a strange question, but is it a complete feed? have heard that it is but don't think it is

It isn't a "complete feed". It's oat straw, timothy grass, linseed & rape seed oil, marigold, herbs, limestone & cinnamon (ingredients from website). I would still feel a good vitamin & mineral supplement along with it (Progressive Earth, Forage Plus, Equimmins, etc)

 

[poiuytrewq]

Lite and healthy. It’s really lovely. I struggled to find a chaff that fitted my criteria of no molasses, no soya no alfalfa etc. Horse won’t touch a lot of “diet chops” including not being keen on Thunderbrooks or simple systems but he seems to really enjoy the honeychop one.
I did a online feed course and a lot of the chaffs with nutritionally enriched straw are sprayed with caustic soda (drain cleaner) I didn’t believe it but after a bit of looking up it’s true ? obviously can’t do them much harm but I’d prefer not to use it.
Honey chop lite and healthy is fairly close to perfection as far as I’m concerned! Shame about the rapeseed oil but can’t have everything!!

 

[Micky]

I’ve used both, hi fi for years until I found lite and healthy, much nicer, will be sticking with that now..

 

[Chianti]

Lite and healthy. It’s really lovely. I struggled to find a chaff that fitted my criteria of no molasses, no soya no alfalfa etc. Horse won’t touch a lot of “diet chops” including not being keen on Thunderbrooks or simple systems but he seems to really enjoy the honeychop one.
I did a online feed course and a lot of the chaffs with nutritionally enriched straw are sprayed with caustic soda (drain cleaner) I didn’t believe it but after a bit of looking up it’s true ? obviously can’t do them much harm but I’d prefer not to use it.
Honey chop lite and healthy is fairly close to perfection as far as I’m concerned! Shame about the rapeseed oil but can’t have everything!!

Just for info - after reading this I contacted TopSpec and they told me that their Zero straw chaff isn't treated with caustic soda.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Just for info - after reading this I contacted TopSpec and they told me that their Zero straw chaff isn't treated with caustic soda.

That’s really interesting. I like Top Spec products. Thanks!
Edited to say, in fact looking at their site it’s actually a really good product. I’m pretty sure I tried it once and mine left it but I’d absolutely buy that happily.

 

[Chianti]

That’s really interesting. I like Top Spec products. Thanks!
Edited to say, in fact looking at their site it’s actually a really good product. I’m pretty sure I tried it once and mine left it but I’d absolutely buy that happily.

I think mine only eats it because he's on a permanent diet and there's no choice! I've always found TopSpec to be very helpful and not too pushy. he looks well on the combination.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I think mine only eats it because he's on a permanent diet and there's no choice! I've always found TopSpec to be very helpful and not too pushy. he looks well on the combination.

Same! Only I’m a sap and can’t stand them leaving feed and begging for more ? dieting horses at home is difficult, they stare at me constantly

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I’ve used both and prefer honeychop l&h. I only feed a token amount each day to get supplements in but it’s lasting a decent amount of time.

 

[Ish2020]

most horses like honey chop better it has a better taste . Put I would be careful on the amount you give the horse since he is good doer.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

most horses like honey chop better it has a better taste . Put I would be careful on the amount you give the horse since he is good doer.

It is designed for horses who are prone to being overweight.

 

[Tihamandturkey]

The chaff I feed to slow my ridiculously fast eater down is lightly molassed & I'm rinsing it to remove the molasses atm - it's being eaten no problem ?

 

[Ish2020]

.

 

[Ish2020]

It is designed for horses who are prone to being overweight.

Yes it definitely is but there is still calories in the chaff and a lot of them are advised for laminitis that needs extra calories like a horse with crushing disease.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

Yes it definitely is but there is still calories in the chaff and a lot of them are advised for laminitis that needs extra calories like a horse with crushing disease.

The OP hasnt stated she is looking for a calorie free feed and has been looking online at the content of the feeds (hence knowing the fibre and sugar content), the OP has asked which is a better feed, the HI-FI isnt always suitable as it contains alfalfa and actually has multiple reports of making horses very footy despite being marketed as being laminitic friendly (I have a pony who also became very footy on it also).

Chaffs like chopped straw etc (i.e something that may be lower in calorific value) often arent helpful as not all ponies and horses will eat it, as its so bland.

Your post didnt really make sense.